The Washington critic., 1887-09-05
TOPICS OF THE DAY.

Grand Duchess Of Baden during her
stay abroad, and court etiquette will
require her 10 wear the decorations
she has received, trinkets which she
slows away in II box at home. These
are the Iron Cross of Germany, pre-.
senied by Emperor William; a medal
from the Queen of Italy, badge of
honor from the Queen OF Servia, a
court jewel from the Grand Duchess
Louise and good many other trines
which good American can hardly be
expected to remember Says the phila.
delpbla Press. Miss Barton has been,
and is on this visit likely to he, feted
and caressed TO an extent sufficient to
turn any head but one so exceedingly
level as her own.
s"a
Baltimoreans say that they have long
predicted That young Robert Garrett
would not remain railroad president
any length of time. He has no liking
for an executive position, and only re.
mained at his desk during the short
intervals between his flights hither aud
thither In pursuit of diversion. lie is
intensely fond of what are called social
pleasures, In drawing.roOm clubs and
swell assemblies, If he had been
obliged TO depend on the Baltimore
and Ohio for his fortune he might.
have been different. but the fact Is,
says the New York Sun, that he would
be many millionaire IL he had no
holdings In that road. His interest in
the banking house of which he Is the
head Is very valuable, and, further.
more, the CARROTS are 10 Baltimore
what the real estate holdings of the
Astors have made that family to this
city. President Garrett Is about 81
years old.
The Washington correspondent of
the Kansas City Times, Colonel Ayres,
was chatting with Assistant Treasurer
Whelpley few days since, respecting
the operations of the treasurer's office,
when Mr.. Robert Il. Preston, the ex.
pert examiner in the office of the Di.
rector OF the Mint, entered and exhib-
ited n silver dollar, asking smilingly II
1t could be redeemed by silver Ger.
tifleate of one dollar. Mr.. Whelpley,
without examining the coin critically,
said he could give him one dollar
silver certificate for it. is that the
best you can do?" inquired Mr.. Pres
ton. You had better look at this
piece before you limit your gencros-
ity.' Mr. Whelpley took the coin and
twas found to be II silver dollar of the
date 1904, of which only twelve were
coined, two OF these, however, being
of doubtful legitimacy. The piece was
in perfect state of preservation and
beautifully impressed, the head aud
bust Of the figure of Liberty being only
shown, and that of exquisite de.
sign. Mr.. Preston said that this
was the most valuable of all silver
coins OF the United States. not alone
because Of its variety, but by reason of
beauty of design and coinage. Very
many counterfeits of this coin had been
palmed off, through cunning alteration
of the date. This piece, however, was
genuine, and he had received 1t from
some gentleman in Ohio. Upon being
asked lis value, Mr.. Preston said he
would not hesitate to give $500 for It
as speculation, but others might put
higher estimate upon 1t. Atall events,
ii was Il great curio. and wealthy coin
collectors would doubtless give fancy
price for Its possession. He said,
furthermore, he intended to trace the
history of the coin and endeavor to fix
its origin. since the piece bore evidences
of having been circulated, although
the face was In much better state of
preservation than the back. This,
however, might be explained through
having been carried as pocketpiece.
~
Every day, says the Washington cor
rnsnnndnnt of ihn CIncinnnI Iutnna.